Candidates neck and neck

The poll suggests that Norris and Livingstone are running a close race.

Ken Livingstone's plunging popularity has given Steve Norris a chance of victory in tomorrow's election to become London Mayor.

A YouGov poll in today's Evening Standard shows The Labour and Conservative candidates are now neck and neck, with Mr Livingstone at 51% and Mr Norris on 49% of support from people who say they are certain to vote.

Mr Livingstone's dramatic re-entry to Labour's ranks after nearly four years in exile has helped erode his support from 41% to 37% in the past three weeks.

The prospect of a low turn-out and the impact of the crucial second preference votes has placed victory tantalisingly close for Mr Norris.

The UK Independence Party is also set for a stunning breakthrough in tomorrow's local, European and London Mayoral elections, according to the 1,517 Londoners who were questioned on Monday and Tuesday.

UKIP is poised to win three London Assembly seats and two MEPs in the London region, the Standard says.

They are now level with the Tories on 22% of all voters in the European elections. Labour are on 26%, with the Liberal Democrats on 16%.

UKIP's new-found popularity could be bad news for Mr Livingstone, who romped to victory as an independent candidate to become London's first directly-elected mayor four years ago.

Driven by the party's strong anti-EU message, many UKIP supporters are determined to turn out and are likely to cast their second preference votes for Mr Norris, the Standard says.

It is also likely to be bad news for the far-right British National Party, which secured 2% of support at the last London elections.

However, a strong turn-out by Labour supporters could easily see Mr Livingstone retain his office.